The Message of Christ’s Death
1 Corinthians 2
1Dear brothers and sisters, when I came to you, I did not come preaching
God’s secret with fancy words or a show of human wisdom. 2I decided that while
I was with you I would forget about everything except Jesus Christ and his death
on the cross. 3So when I came to you, I was weak and fearful and trembling. 4My
teaching and preaching were not with words of human wisdom that persuade
people but with proof of the power that the Spirit gives. 5This was so that your
faith would be in God’s power and not in human wisdom.
God’s Wisdom
6However, I speak a wisdom to those who are mature. But this wisdom is not
from this world or from the rulers of this world, who are losing their power. 7I
speak God’s secret wisdom, which he has kept hidden. Before the world began,
God planned this wisdom for our glory. 8None of the rulers of this world
understood it. If they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9But
as it is written in the Scriptures:
“No one has ever seen this,
and no one has ever heard about it.
No one has ever imagined
what God has prepared for those
who love him.”
Isaiah 64:4
10But God has shown us these things through the Spirit.
The Spirit searches out all things, even the deep secrets of God. 11Who knows
the thoughts that another person has? Only a person’s spirit that lives within him
knows his thoughts. It is the same with God. No one knows the thoughts of God
except the Spirit of God. 12Now we did not receive the spirit of the world, but we
received the Spirit that is from God so that we can know all that God has given
us. 13And we speak about these things, not with words taught us by human
wisdom but with words taught us by the Spirit. And so we explain spiritual truths
to spiritual people. 14A person who does not have the Spirit does not accept the
truths that come from the Spirit of God. That person thinks they are foolish and
cannot understand them, because they can only be judged to be true by the Spirit.
15The spiritual person is able to judge all things, but no one can judge him. The
Scripture says:
16“Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Who has been able to teach him?”
Isaiah 40:13
But we have the mind of Christ.
The Holy Bible, New Century Version
SITUATION
The world cannot understand God's wisdom, nor can it comprehend that God's Son had to die to bring sinners back to God.
OBSERVATION
God reveals the mystery of the gospel to us when the Holy Spirit opens our spiritual eyes.
INSPIRATION
Men are always seeking for greater wisdom, but they usually bypass the Ultimate Source of wisdom. The Scriptures clearly point this direction. They reveal, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" (Proverbs 9:10). But what has man done with this tremendous resource at his fingertips? Ignored it! "For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools" (Romans 1:21-22).
Since God's wisdom resides in His Word, it is imperative to know what He has revealed, but even many Christians ignore a regular time reading and studying the Scriptures. Therefore, many of their decisions are foolish, because they've not consulted the Ultimate Source of wisdom. (From Finding Time by Rick Yohn)
APPLICATION
Do you read God's Word faithfully? Create a notebook of observations. Keep track of new discoveries and old truths. Let them strengthen your faith and share them in your conversations.
EXPLORATION
Renew Your Mind - Proverbs 15:14; Romans 12:2; Philippians 4:8.
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